Free Trade Party

The Free Trade Party, later known as the Anti-Socialist Party, was a liberal political party in Australia that was active from 1887 to 1909. The party advocated the abolition of protectionism (especially tariffs and other trade restrictions), arguing that this would create greater prosperity for all. However, many members argued minimal tariffs for government revenue purposes only. From 1904 to 1905, George Reid briefly served as Prime Minister, and the party was renamed to the Anti-Socialist Party in 1906. In 1909, the Free Trade Party and the Protectionist Party merged into the Commonwealth Liberal Party.